" They became dislodged when a bull stepped on his face Thursday night during the bull riding competition at the Clovis Rodeo. While Schiffner was unconscious. Because he'd been knocked to the ground on his head."

GOOD.

Rodeos toture animals. And I don't mean by just riding them around when the animal doesn't want them on their back.

I mean that when the animal is in it's pen, they stab it in the sides with sharp spurs, and do other shiat to it as well to hurt it, and that's why it comes out bucking. I read a story on it once. It should be outlawed right along with cock fighting.

Sswift - you are a PETA member, perhaps? Rodeo animals are better treated than most pets. Bulls are not spurred. Broncos are spurred, but they are dull. It looks violent to the uneducated (like you), but those animals are the livlihood of the stock provider, and he probably treats them better than his children. But this is one of those no win arguments. City folk will always want the animals to cuddle up to their kids, and country folk will always want to rodeo.

We got one of them thar rodeo thingamajigs rot here in Mesquite, Texas. I worked there as a kid. And I have seen many a cowboy hauled out on a stretcher. The announcer for many years at the rodeo was a man named James Jennings. He use to refer to bulls as " fifteen hundred pounds of animated hamburger". I also played ice hockey as a goalie for the better part of 32 years. It wasn't often I could point at another athlete and remark, "you are crazier than I am".

The reason they come out bucking is because they are "bucking bulls" not because of something the cowboy does while in the chutes (besides the obvious sitting on his back). Not all bulls are good at the bucking thing, and nothing the contractor or cowboy does can change that. If they could, then *everyone* would have a *million dollar* bull like Bodacious.

Last summer I got to ride a couple of times (read "mid life crises with not enough money for the red convertable so I'll go bull riding") and I got to know some of the animal contractors and event workers. These were not "dumb county folk", most of them had degrees from NC State. They not only knew that if they didn't take care of their animals then they had no livlihood but they also knew HOW to take care of them (now some of the people in the stands were a different story....dumb as a box of rocks).

yeah, let's ban all animal sports!!!!11 it's cruel to the animals. they can't proctect themselves. the animals might get killed.

now, let me get back to my CNN war reporting. only people die there. they're just people. yes, i would start a group for the ethical treatment of people, but PETP sounds gross.

i love rodeo. if you enjoy living on the west coast, thank a cowboy, it would have been a long walk in the 1800's without a horse or an ox. without them, there would be nothing but mormons and mexicans in california. oh wait...

04-28-03 10:10:59 AM HanZnSoloI still agree with Kylie. If the rodeo wasn't the ritual pissing-off of bulls, then why in the heck would they CONTINUE trying to kill the rider once they bucked him off?

They generally don't. Sometimes they do, and it's the job of the clowns to distract them until the cowboy gets to safety.The bulls are like people; they have different personalities and styles. Some are mean, and bent on kicking the riders ass. Others, having dislodged the cowboy, lose interest.

bull poker...... crazy. Saw it on TV. I watched with my mouth open as these four guys played poker until the bull ran em over.Actually , this is no different 4:30am at home when me and the boys are gambling...except my wife drools a little more

"Sswift - you are a PETA member, perhaps? Rodeo animals are better treated than most pets. Bulls are not spurred. Broncos are spurred, but they are dull. It looks violent to the uneducated (like you), but those animals are the livlihood of the stock provider, and he probably treats them better than his children."

No I am not a peta member. Those guys are crazy. And I know what I saw... This was on TV where I saw this report. They showed the sides of the animal after it had been spurred and stuff. And I distinctly remember something about them having to film in secret or something. If the rodeo was on the up and up they wouldn't have to film in secret.

Based solely on the description of what you saw, I would have to agree that that does qualify as cruel. Maybe it was just some "way too macho" cowboys that sharpened their spurs with the intent on hurting the animals. Not good. I can say that I never saw any types of sores from spurs on the bulls at any of the events I went too.

So perhaps it's kind of like the story of the pit bull owners...some of them are idiots but maybe more of them are responsible, caring individuals. Now which ones are better for T.V. ratings and therefore get all the press?

Kylie,I never thought to ask what that rope around the back end of the bulls is for (flank rope). I don't think it's really for bucking, because generally the bulls stop bucking after the rider is thrown even though the flank rope stays on. Again, I have no idea what it's for, that's just my observation.

Chknbone wroteI can say that I never saw any types of sores from spurs on the bulls at any of the events I went too.

PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Assc) and the IRCA (International Rodeo Cowboys Assc) Require that only dull or blunted rowels (the spinning disk at the end of the spur) be used, on the horse events the rowels MUST spin freely, in the bull riding they are wired or locked so they dont spin, but they still must be dull and blunt.

Kylie,I never thought to ask what that rope around the back end of the bulls is for (flank rope).

Thats a Flank strap it is a rope lined with sheep Skin and its used to make the bull buck harder, as its lined it doesn't cause them pain but it is an irritant and thus they buck harder to get that thing off of them. They reason they buck is instinct. Theink back what hunted cows way back when , Lions and Pumas, they usually jumped down and onto the backs of the cow to drive it to the ground and kill it, Bucking then was a defensive tactic developed to counter that style of attack. Also Stock contractors generally only use a bucking bull or horse but maybe once a week for 8 seconds then its back to the pen and more hay grain and sleep.

Sorry for the book but the info needed to be put forth.Tully MarsGulf Coastal Cowboy